Soon there will be only one car factory left in all of Belgium. Audi has chosen to close the country's second factory. In 2025 it will end after 70 years.
Audi is closing its factory in Brussels, Belgium, and this decision means layoffs for around 3,000 employees. The closure will take place at the end of February 2025.
This is written by Automobilwoche .
The closure marks a rare move by the Volkswagen Group, which has not closed a European plant in decades. Trade union leader Daniela Cavallo also warns that more shutdowns may be on the way in the future.
Audi has been working for a long time to sell the factory in Brussels. Despite interest from 26 companies, none of them has offered a release that has been able to ensure a continuation of the operation.
Information indicates that none of the potential buyers has been able to present an economically viable proposal.
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Today, the Brussels plant only produces the Audi Q8 e-tron model. The factory, which was founded in 1949, was taken over by Volkswagen in 1970 and has been owned by Audi since 2007.
Over the years, the factory has played a central role in car production in Belgium, but over recent years there has been a gradual downsizing of the workforce.
Already in April, the first 371 employees were dismissed, and this happened despite the fact that the Belgian government tried to negotiate with Audi to maintain production in the country.
However, the government's efforts have not changed the decision on the closure. The uncertainty about the factory has created frustration among the employees, who have responded with several actions to raise awareness of their situation.
Recently, disgruntled employees removed some 200 new cars in an attempt to send a clear signal to Audi about their concerns.
In addition, tires were also set on fire outside the factory as a symbolic protest against the upcoming shutdown. The action reflects the serious mood among the remaining employees who now face an uncertain future.
With the closure of the Brussels factory, many of the former employees are now in a situation of economic and professional uncertainty. How the employees are positioned after February 2025 is still unknown.
The news comes just one day after it was announced that Volkswagen will close at least three factories in Germany. This is the first time this has ever happened. At the same time, the employees who are not fired on the spot will be forced to take at least a 10 percent pay cut.
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